Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,^[a] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?^{(A) 26} Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?^{(B) 27} And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?^{[b] 28} And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God^[c] and his^[d] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^(C)

³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

⁴ Rejoice^[a] in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.^{[b](A) 5} Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.^{(B) 6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.^{(C) 7} And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.^(D)

Acknowledgment of the Philippians’ Gift

¹⁰ I rejoice^[a] in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me but had no opportunity to show it.^{[b](A) 11} Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.^{(B) 12} I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.^{(C) 13} I can do all things through him who strengthens me.^{(D) 14} In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

¹⁵ You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.^{(E) 16} For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit^[c] that accumulates to your account.^{(F) 18} I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.^{(G) 19} And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.^{(H) 20} To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.^(I)